Statistical theory has been relatively absent in the exercise of estimating parameters of an option pricing model from cross-sectional data at a fixed point of calendar time. The cross-sectional data typically consists of prices for options at various strikes and maturities at market close. The...

The risk-neutral process is modeled by a four parameter self-similar process of independent increments with a self-decomposable law for its unit time distribution. Six different processes in this general class are theoretically formulated and empirically investigated. We show that all six models...

We consider the problem of optimal investment in a risky asset, and in derivatives written on the price process of this asset, when the underlying asset price process is a pure jump Lévy process. The duality approach of Karatzas and Shreve is used to derive the optimal consumption and...

In this thesis, stochastic volatility models with Levy processes are treatedin parameter calibration by the Carr-Madan fast Fourier transform (FFT) method and pricingthrough the partial integro-differential equation (PIDE) approach. First, different models where the underlying log stock price or...

Noting that risk neutral distributions are estimated by minimizing the squared deviations between market and model option prices we consider using option payoff moments in estimating distributional parameters from a sample of observations. It is observed, in particular when compared to maximum...

Asset price dynamics are taken to be accumulations of surprise jumps in the logarithm of prices. A Markov pure jump model is formulated on making variance gamma parameters deterministic functions of the price level. Estimation is done by matrix exponentiation of the transition rate matrix for a...

Minimal discounted distorted expectations across a range of stress levels are employed to model risk acceptability in markets. Interactions between discounting and stress levels used in measure changes are accommodated by lowering discount rates for the higher stress levels. Acceptability...

It is argued that the growth in the breadth of option strikes traded after the financial crisis of 2008 poses difficulties for the use of Fourier inversion methodologies in volatility surface calibration. Continuous time Markov chain approximations are proposed as an alternative. They are shown...

An argument for adjusting Black Scholes implied call deltas downwards for a gamma exposure in a left skewed market is presented. It is shown that when the objective for the hedge is the conservation of capital ignoring the gamma for the delta position is expensive. The gamma adjustment factor in...